Banana port concession delayed

A concession process for two terminals at Ecuador's Puerto Bolívar is paralyzed for at least six months, El Universo reported. Opposition from local authorities in southern El Oro province is delaying the decision to proceed with the process at Ecuador's leading banana export port. Byron Trujillo, head of the Puerto Bolívar Port Authority (APPB), said the process is delayed because the assembly has not made a decision as to whether to continue with it. APPB is offering two 25-year concessions for each of the ports terminals. Terminal one requires investment of US$17.36mn and terminal two US$25.60mn, according to information from the port authority. A two-month dredging program at the port will begin next week to extend the berthing depth to 10.5m from its current 8.5m.